Urban transformation deadlock in Kartal! Tree massacre infuriates citizens

ISTANBUL / KARTAL – The urban transformation process in Kartal is being shaken not only by license cancellations and lawsuits involving the Ministry, but also by allegations of environmental destruction and "crony contractors."

Kartal resident Taner Saraç, who has reached a mountain of documents spanning three folders in his legal battle against irregularities, has now rebelled against the "unsolved" massacre of 30-year-old fruit trees in his building's garden, which occurred under the supervision of the municipality.

Walnut, mulberry, plum, and fig trees in the garden of the building located at Yukarı Neighborhood, block 11026, parcel 183, which was demolished as part of the urban transformation, were destroyed by bulldozers.

The response provided by the Kartal Municipality Parks and Gardens Directorate upon Taner Saraç's complaint was astonishing: "The identities of the individuals who cut down the trees could not be determined."

Saraç reacted sharply to this response and posed the following questions:

How can it be unknown who carried out the demolition in a building that has a demolition permit? Why was the "tree report," which is mandatory when issuing a demolition permit, not requested? Why is the municipality turning a blind eye to this crime committed in an area under its responsibility?

ALLEGATIONS OF RENT-SEEKING BETWEEN CONTRACTOR AND MUNICIPALITY

Taner Saraç's struggle is not limited to trees. According to Saraç's claims, there is a two-acre plot of land belonging to the municipality next to his building, which is undergoing urban transformation. Stating that the municipality wants to have multi-block buildings constructed by handing over this area to "crony contractors," Saraç says he has halted this process through the lawsuits he filed and media support. However, the fact that no sanctions have been applied by the municipality against the contractor, who is alleged to have engaged in irregular transactions, casts a shadow over the transparency of the process.

Explaining the process to 12punto, Taner Saraç stated the following:

"Demolition began on the building before the 75-day period granted for the evacuation of the risky structure had expired. The seal on the building, which had been placed by the municipality, was broken by the contractor firm's employees. Despite our written complaints, Kartal Municipality remained silent about the cutting of the trees during the demolition and took no action against the contractor firm. Although there was an information note during the Altınok Öz era in 2015 stating that trees in the gardens of buildings to be demolished in Kartal Municipality must be protected and that legal action would be taken against those who cut them, tree cutting is being permitted in 2026 during the Gökhan Yüksel era, and no legal action is taken against those who cut the trees.

The crony contractor firm refused to sign a construction contract with the heirs of the restricted/deceased person, instead opting to sell shares for the 5 inherited properties, acquiring them for next to nothing, and wanting to build a multi-block site by merging them with municipal parcels on the adjacent plot; the fact that a power of attorney was added to the heirs' sales file to sign the contract did not stop Kartal Municipality. Following this, the Republic of Turkey Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change intervened in the matter, and the sale was temporarily halted with the letter stating, 'The party providing power of attorney to sign the contract in the sales file is not considered a party that does not sign the contract, therefore a share sale cannot take place.' In the Kartal Municipality's response letter dated 19.02.2025, it is stated that a file must be prepared and an application made to the relevant directorate within the scope of current legislation to change the status of the religious facility area remaining in the K3 density zone in the Kartal South Revision Master Zoning Plan to a residential area. Kartal Municipality aims to carry out a large project through a crony contractor by merging the religious facility area with our building that will undergo urban transformation"...

CUTTING TREES IS A CRIME

According to the legal legislation emphasized in the petition, cutting trees in common areas without permission is subject to severe sanctions under the Turkish Penal Code: "Cutting trees in a common area constitutes a crime according to Articles 151 and 152 of the Turkish Penal Code No. 5237. The perpetrator is punished with imprisonment from four months to three years or a judicial fine."

URBAN TRANSFORMATION PARALYZED IN KARTAL

Urban transformation problems experienced in the 1st and 2nd zones across Kartal have reached a complete deadlock following the loss of lawsuits against the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change. The cancellation of the construction permits issued so far has dragged both the rights holders and the city into great uncertainty. Taner Saraç, who has turned the process into a legal battle, is preparing to protest in front of Kartal Municipality for the sake of nature and the future. Saraç is also waging a legal battle to ensure that the firm that cut the trees is punished with judicial and administrative sanctions.

News Source: 12punto